Si Clauses & Sequence of Tenses
Practice the three si-clause patterns and tense sequencing with Spanish irregular verbs.
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Type 2 si-clause skeleton (hypothetical present/future)
Si + imperfecto de subjuntivo → condicional simple. Ej: Si tuviera tiempo, te diría la verdad.
Type 3 si-clause skeleton (counterfactual past)
Si + pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo (hubiera/hubiese + participio) → condicional compuesto (habría + participio). Ej: Si lo hubiera sabido, no habría dicho nada.
The 'iron rule' about si
Never use the present subjunctive after si. ✗ 'Si tenga tiempo…' is not Spanish — only present indicative, imperfect subjunctive, or pluperfect subjunctive.
How do you build the imperfect subjunctive of any irregular verb?
Take the 3rd-person plural preterite, drop -ron, add -ra, -ras, -ra, -́ramos (accented), -rais, -ran. E.g. estuvieron → estuviera, estuviéramos.
Imperfect subjunctive of decir, traer, conducir — what's special?
dijera, trajera, condujera — j-stems drop the i: dijeran (not dijieran), trajeran, condujeran.
The twelve irregular conditional/future stems
tendr-, pondr-, dir-, har-, podr-, querr-, sabr-, saldr-, vendr-, habr-, cabr-, valdr- + -ía endings.
Sequence of tenses: present/future/command main verb
Takes present subjunctive (or present perfect subjunctive): Quiero que vengas. / Me alegro de que lo hayas hecho.
Sequence of tenses: preterite/imperfect/conditional/pluperfect main verb
Takes imperfect subjunctive (or pluperfect subjunctive): Quería que vinieras. / Me alegré de que lo hubieras hecho.
What mood/tense follows 'como si'?
Always imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive, regardless of the main clause tense: Habla como si fuera el jefe.
How does tense change the meaning of ojalá?
Ojalá venga = hopefully he comes (still possible); Ojalá viniera = I wish he'd come (unlikely); Ojalá hubiera venido = I wish he had come (impossible now).
